Hippocampus Metropolitan Distillery

If you think that you’ve heard the word “hippocampus” before, you probably have—just not in reference to vodka. Braincells Pty Ltd developed the packaging for Hippocampus Metropolitan Distillery, a maker of fine, small batch spirits in Australia.

“The ‘hippocampus’ is a part of the brain that we hold dear to our hearts in that it is particularly important in forming new memories and connecting emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to memories. And how did an eccentrically dressed seahorse get in on the act? The Hippocampus itself was so named given its resemblance to the shape of a seahorse... (hippos being Greek for horse and kampus meaning sea monster).”

“Hippocampus Metropolitan Distillery produces small batch or craft spirits using terrific ingredients that are Australian sourced – in particular, with barley and wheat grain products. They are made ‘from the ground up’… starting with these local grains to ensure the base spirit is pure before handcrafting the products themselves into unique recipes.”

“The custom artisan still includes two columns, with each column containing 10 purifying plates. This formed the basis for the brand stamp which is made up of 2 columns of 10 grain shaped plates. This along with the seahorse and hand crafted typography have formed the basis for the Hippocampus brand.”

The distillery’s packaging is a smart approach that is equally refined and fun for craft spirit drinkers. A cheeky seahorse dressed to the nines enjoys a drink made with the vodka, taking a mascot that could have been viewed as stuffy if here were simply a person and giving it a fantastical, whimsical twist. The clear bottle and crisp white label is sophisticated, and a traditional sans serif font further appeals to those interested in craft spirits and cocktails.

Warfield Distillery & Brewery

Tucked in the mountains of Idaho is Sun Valley, a small ski town that offers year-round activities and endless natural beauty. Conrad Garner developed the branding and packaging for Warfield Distillery & Brewery, a place that serves fresh, local beer and artisanal spirits in addition to seasonal pub fare.

Eighteen 33 Bourbon

Bourbon enthusiasts, this one’s for you. Eighteen 33 bourbon whiskey comes from a distillery that was originally around in the 1800s. Neltner Small Batch developed the packaging for Boone County Distilling Co, taking its history into the modern age.

Oss Craft Distillery

“There’s something about Oss.” Norwegian agency Kind developed the branding and identity for Oss Craft Distillery, a producer of the traditional Scandinavian aquavit. The result tells a story that represents Oss well and instantly attracts the target audience.

Park Distillery

These spirits from Park Distillery remind me of the traditional national park postcards you might pick up and send to friends when camping. Glasfurd & Walker used the outdoors as inspiration to make each one in the new line of vodka and whiskey.